34 



BULLETIN 941, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of capons and broilers and eggs brought the major portion of the 

 farm income. The average farmer, however, unless adept at the art 

 of raising chickens, may find it more profitable to subordinate the 

 poultry enterprise. The aggregate amount of chickens and eggs pro- 

 duced in the Ozarks is large, and Springfield, Mo., is recognized as 

 one of the leading poultry markets of the country. 



PASTURE. 



The rough topography of a large portion of this region makes the 

 grasses of prime importance. The increase in the live-stock industry 

 in the last few years has intensified the need of pastures. In the 

 early years the open range furnished an abundance of grass until late 



Fig. 12.— This woman raised and sold 100 capons, 1,000 broilers, and a large number of hens during the 

 year of the survey. In addition, she helped in the milking of 10 cows. 



fall. No feed was given during the grazing season, and in the late 

 summer or fall the marketable cattle were sold. The woodlands were 

 burned over each winter to restrain the growth of underbrush and 

 small trees. 



As the country became more populous, however, farms became 

 more numerous through the range territory, and the number of cattle 

 and other live stock on the range increased, bringing heavier demands 

 on the pasture. After the erection of more fences and buildings 

 throughout the region the practice of burning over large areas was 

 gradually restricted. Burning the woods was detrimental to the 

 mast and acorn crop, and was gradually discontinued as hog produc- 

 tion became an important enterprise. 



